As they set out, a terror from God fell over the surrounding cities, so that they did not pursue Jacob’s sons.
Parallel translations
- WEB They traveled, and a terror of God was on the cities that were around them, and they didn’t pursue the sons of Jacob.
- KJV And they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob.
- NKJV And they journeyed, and the terror of God was upon the cities that were all around them, and they did not pursue the sons of Jacob.
- NASB As they journeyed, there was a great terror upon the cities which were around them, and they did not pursue the sons of Jacob.
- NLT As they set out, a terror from God spread over the people in all the towns of that area, so no one attacked Jacob’s family.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
A terror from God falls on the surrounding cities, so no one pursues Jacob's family as they travel.
Overview
Despite the danger Jacob feared after Shechem, God supernaturally protects the family by striking fear into their neighbors. This 'terror of God' shows the LORD guarding the covenant line even amid their failures. It reassures readers that God's purposes for His people cannot be thwarted by human enemies.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Exod 23:27I will send My terror ahead of you and throw into confusion every nation you encounter. I will make all your enemies turn and run.
- 2 Chr 17:10And the dread of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that surrounded Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat.
- Ps 14:5There they are, overwhelmed with dread, for God is in the company of the righteous.
- Josh 5:1Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the coast heard how the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan before the Israelites until they had crossed over, their hearts melted and their spirits failed for fear of the Israelites.
- Exod 34:24For I will drive out the nations before you and enlarge your borders, and no one will covet your land when you go up three times a year to appear before the LORD your God.
- Josh 2:9–11and said to them, “I know that the LORD has given you this land and that the fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who dwell in the land are melting in fear of you.
- Exod 15:15–16Then the chiefs of Edom will be dismayed; trembling will seize the leaders of Moab; those who dwell in Canaan will melt away,
- 1 Sam 14:15Then terror struck the Philistines in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. Even those in the outposts and raiding parties trembled. Indeed, the earth quaked and panic spread from God.
- 1 Sam 11:7He took a pair of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent them by messengers throughout the land of Israel, proclaiming, “This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not march behind Saul and Samuel.” Then the terror of the LORD fell upon the people, and they turned out as one man.
- 2 Chr 14:14and attacked all the cities around Gerar, because the terror of the LORD had fallen upon them. They plundered all the cities, since there was much plunder there.
- Deut 11:25No man will be able to stand against you; the LORD your God will put the fear and dread of you upon all the land, wherever you set foot, as He has promised you.
- Gen 34:30Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have brought trouble upon me by making me a stench to the Canaanites and Perizzites, the people of this land. We are few in number; if they unite against me and attack me, I and my household will be destroyed.”
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Christ at the center
From the first promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent (3:15), through Abraham's blessing to all nations and Judah's coming ruler, Genesis sows every seed that flowers in Christ — the true offspring, the better Adam, the ram caught for Isaac.
How Genesis 35:5 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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